4

Chapter 4

The room felt small, as if the walls themselves were closing in. Julian stood just a few inches away from Emily, the heat from his body radiating through the air. Every breath she took seemed to deepen the distance between them, and yet it felt like they were already too close to breathe.

“Why are you doing this?” Emily’s voice was barely above a whisper, the words slipping from her lips like they were caught in her throat. She didn’t know if she was asking him why he kept pursuing her, or why her heart had started betraying her, racing in a way she hadn’t expected.

Julian’s gaze never wavered, his eyes dark and intense, tracing the lines of her face as if he were memorizing every detail. His hand, so steady and sure, reached up to brush a strand of hair from her cheek, the touch lingering for just a moment longer than it should have.

“I’m doing this because you need me,” he said, his voice smooth, but there was an edge to it—something raw and dangerous that sent a thrill through her. “And I won’t stop until you understand that.”

Emily’s heart skipped a beat at his words, a shiver running down her spine. She could feel the weight of his words, and the power in them. There was a certainty to Julian that made it hard to argue, like he knew something she didn’t.

She took a step back, her hands trembling slightly as she tucked them behind her. “I’m not some prize to be won, Julian.”

His lips curled into a small, amused smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He stepped closer, closing the gap she’d tried to create. “No. You’re so much more than that, Emily. And I don’t want to win you. I want you. All of you.” His voice dropped an octave, the words laced with a possessive heat that made her breath catch in her throat.

She swallowed hard, her chest tightening with a mix of fear and something else. Something that tugged at her, pulling her closer to him even though her mind screamed at her to walk away.

His hand reached for her, fingers grazing the edge of her arm, sending a wave of heat through her body. He didn’t touch her to claim her. No. It was gentler than that, like he was tracing invisible lines between them, mapping her every reaction, watching for the way her skin reacted to his touch.

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked, his voice low, almost teasing, as if he already knew the answer.

Emily opened her mouth, but the words got stuck somewhere between her mind and her lips. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. Part of her wanted to pull away, to retreat to the safety of her own space, but there was another part of her—one she couldn’t ignore—that wanted to stay, to feel his presence, to lose herself in the storm of emotions that swirled around them.

“I…” Her voice faltered, and Julian leaned in closer, his breath brushing against her ear as he spoke again.

“Say it,” he urged, his voice thick with desire. “Say what you really want, Emily.”

The words were dangerous. They were tempting. And part of her hated herself for wanting to speak them out loud. But the other part of her—the one that burned every time he touched her, every time he was near—wanted to say it. Wanted to say what she knew would break her.

“I… I don’t know,” she finally whispered, the confession hanging in the air between them.

Julian smiled softly, the kind of smile that could break a heart. He pulled away slightly, but his hand remained on her arm, keeping her grounded. “You don’t have to know yet,” he murmured. “But you will. Soon enough.”

And then, as quickly as it had begun, the moment shifted. Julian took a step back, his eyes never leaving hers. There was a quiet finality in his gaze, like he’d made his decision. He would wait. He would push her, but only enough to keep her questioning, to keep her coming back for more.

“I’ll be here, Emily,” he said, his voice a quiet promise. “When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting.”

And with that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving her breathless, confused, and with a longing she couldn’t name.

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